Swimming Pool Equipment Essentials
There is so much excitement in your life when you own a backyard pool. It can really bring out the kid in you. Whether purchasing inflatable pool toys, lounge chairs or accent lighting, you are probably heavily invested into getting the most out of being on, in or near the water. That’s all great. However, there is a certain sort of pool toolbox you should also have on hand, you know, for when you have to do some routine cleaning and maintenance and perhaps even some minor repairs. (It’s all fun and games until someone has to vacuum the pool, right?) Keeping up with the cleaning aspects of your swimming pool, however, are what gives it the longevity it needs so it will continue to be a source of fun and enjoyment for you and your family all year long.
A word of caution, however. There is a great deal of swimming pool equipment out there. Some you need. Some you don’t. Some you may want to have, well, just because. Some of its essential and some of it is “purchase at your own discretion” or even plain luxury items. Whatever the case may be, for the purposes of this blog post, we are going to focus on the basics, the “must have” and “should have” swimming pool equipment and tools. We are talking chemicals, equipment, filters, and such. Nothing incredibly fancy but totally important to maintaining and cleaning a pool.
The rundown of basic swimming pool equipment for owners
1. The telescopic pole
This may be the single most important piece of equipment you will need as a pool owner. It wears many hats and can assist with anything from brushing to vacuuming to skimming and more. It can extend in size as you need it to and it can also be minimized to a shorter lengthy. Flexibility is in its job description. Because it handles a lot for you, the telescopic pole can save you effort and time.
2. The pool skimmer net
See those leaves out in the middle of the pool, just floating away with seemingly nothing else to do but destroy the pristine beauty of the water? Grab your handy dandy pool skimmer net, snap it to the end of your telescopic pole and then go to town skimming the surface of the pool. From candy wrappers to leaves, this net should be able to tackle anything within reach to keep your pool pristine and free of unsightly debris.
3. Pool brush attachment
See those leaves out in the middle of the pool, just floating away with seemingly nothing else to do but destroy the pristine beauty of the water? Grab your handy dandy pool skimmer net, snap it to the end of your telescopic pole and then go to town skimming the surface of the pool. From candy wrappers to leaves, this net should be able to tackle anything within reach to keep your pool pristine and free of unsightly debris.
4. Vacuum head
In order to vacuum your pool, you need a vacuum head and a vacuum hose and (cue: gasp!) a telescopic pole. (You are going to be so thankful you have this on hand at all times.) You simply attach the vacuum head to the end of the telescopic pole and voila! You are ready to vacuum the floor of the pool. (Well, once you turn on the vacuum, that is.)
5. Vacuum hose
You definitely need one of these. You can’t do much vacuuming without it. Basically its main job is to connect to the skimmer and then supply the vacuum with whatever pressure it requires to suck up all the debris and gunk. Make sure the vacuum hose you get is flexible and long. Aim for 30 feet in length.
6. Filter
Keeping your swimming pool clean is a full time job for the equipment you have. The filter is probably the star player here. Its job is to purify the water, remove contaminants and debris (the gross stuff!) and essentially just keep your swimming pool water sparkling clean and safe for swimmers.
There are different filters, too: sand filters, DE filters and cartridge filters. They all work hard at keeping your pool clean. Cartridge filters typically tend to be the most common, and you can learn more about what Leisure Pools® recommends here:
7. Pool pump
The pool pump is also a key player in your pool equipment tool kit. This is the piece that circulates the water and enables the heating and filtration processes. Even though you have a choice of single speed, dual speed and variable speed pumps, a variable speed pump is probably your best bet. Variable speed pumps allow you to control the speed settings with a variety of speed options. You can set your variable speed pump to a desired setting to not only optimize its performance but also save energy. Further, variable speed pumps are quieter and typically last longer than other types of pumps.
8. Pool heater
Never let a rainy day or cloudy skies keep you from enjoying your pool. (If it is thundering and lightening, then please stay away from you pool and take cover.) A pool heater allows you to keep your swimming pool at just the perfect temperature, so you can enjoy a swim in the middle of summer just as comfortably as one on a brisk afternoon in October.
9. Swimming pool chemicals
Just as vital to the integrity of your swimming pool as all of the equipment listed above, the chemicals do their job to keep your pool water safe and free of germs and contaminants.
The basic chemicals needed to keep your swimming pool in tip top shape include:
- Sanitizer (also referred to as shock or chlorine)
- Algaecide
- Pool enzymes
- pH increaser and decreaser
- Alkalinity increaser and decreaser
- Metal sequestrate
Bottom line: This list is not comprehensive in terms of everything you could use to maintain and clean your pool, but if you have these items on hand and within reach, you are well on your way to taking good care of this exciting investment in your life. Plus, with regular use, you can keep costly repairs at bay and have more time on your hand to just enjoy a life of leisure at the pool. See you by the pool!
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